Fishing

Fishing can be an intensely personal experience, often far more enjoyable without crowds of fellow anglers competing at the same hot spot. Within North Warren and all around us, there are dozens of streams, rivers, ponds and lakes with both native and stocked species of your favorite fish and solitude if you seek it.

In Our Back Yard

Rivers and Streams

The Schroon River passes through the heart of North Warren on its journey to join the Hudson at Warrensburg to the south. Heavily stocked with rainbows, the Schroon also offers brown and brook trout. Starbuckville Dam is popular with families, while a mile of public fishing rights along the Schroon River Road offers plenty of elbow room. There are canoe access sites at South Horicon, Riverbank and other locations.

Mill Creek and Glen Creek join the Hudson River west of Chestertown. All three offer trout and smallmouth bass, with roadside access available at The Glen on Route 28, and the Mill Creek Conservation Area south of Riparius. A number of day use picnic sites are also available along Mill Creek, for a wonderful family outing.

Lakes and Ponds

Scenic Brant Lake, just east of Horicon, is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. You can also find native smallmouth bass, largemouth bass in the weedy bays, and chain pickerel. A variety of panfish make it fun for younger anglers too. There is free public boat access at a DEC launch site near the west end in Horicon.

Loon Lake offers excellent bass fishing, walleyes, some pike and plenty of panfish for the kids. The old timers swear by the fine flavor of winter perch when ice fishing.

Schroon Lake is accessible by boat from a free state launch on the south end between Pottersville and Adirondack, or from a free Village ramp on the west side. Deep enough to offer both cold and warm water opportunities, Schroon Lake has native populations of northern pike, lake trout and landlocked salmon; along with smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Horicon Pond, Palmer Pond, Tannery Pool and the Brant Lake Mill Pond are all stocked with trout by Warren County.

Nearby

Rivers and Streams

The North Hudson and Indian Rivers up in Hamilton County are larger waters, perfect for fly fishing. Rainbow and brown trout are stocked annually, with native smallmouth bass found in the Hudson. Note that periodic whitewater rafting releases can cause dangerous conditions, so check with local outfitters for schedules and recommended locations.

Lakes, Ponds and Big Waters

The Lake George Wild Forest, south of Route 8 between Brant Lake and Hague, includes 47 pond and lakes with native and stocked populations of brook trout. Other available species include rainbow and brown trout, and largemouth bass. Jabe Pond can be accessed by a four mile jeep trail, but most waters require a hike of several miles. For those seeking solitude, this and nearby Pharaoh Lake Wilderness is where you want to go.

Accessible only on foot, the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness straddles the border between Warren and Essex counties. Some of the nearly two dozen ponds have wild lake trout, while others offer stocked and native brookies. A hiking trail from the Brant Lake area provides access to Pharaoh Lake, and additional access is available from Route 74, east of the Northway exit 28.

A short scenic drive over Graphite Mountain to Hague brings you to the big waters of Lake George. The Hague area is a top bass fishing destination, but Lake George also has wild populations of lake trout, landlocked salmon, pickerel and pike.

Just up the road is Lake Champlain, 120 miles of numerous fresh water fishing opportunities. Natural populations are enhanced by an annual stocking of 700,000 trout and salmon, and the lake is deep enough to support both warm and cold water fisheries.

Check With DEC

For stocking information, schedules, and seasonal regulations, always check with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation before planning your fishing trip. A valid NYS fishing license is required, and can be obtained at local outfitters and town offices.